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Adventureland…Finally Settling In

We are finally settling in and getting use to the schedule. We are starting to tolerate the heat better, and enjoy the jobs. We both work 6 days a week on the afternoon shift. Mine starts at 3 and Rich starts at 2:40. Once or twice a week, I’m also assigned a morning shift also. That shift is 11 to 3. It still is not even 8 hours a day by the time you sign out for lunch. By next week we will start staying open till 9 during the week and 10 Pm. on weekends. I can pick up 11 to 3 shift anytime I want and Rich can go in and do morning relief for breaks. Were trying to work around 35 hours a week. Its not difficult to do that. A number of Workampers have quit and more to come. A lot of people just can’t handle it, and some are unhappy with the amount of hours they get. Some want less, some want more. Partly communication problem I think. I know Rich and I have no problem with our schedule. Before I go any further I want to make an

ANNOUNCEMENT

Congratulation to Ashley and Mat on the Arrival of Vivian Grace this morning.

Vivian weighed in at 7 lb. 8 oz. 20″ long.

Ashley is our niece. Her mom Connie is Rich’s youngest sister. If you read the blog just before we left home last month, Ashley had a Huge Wonderful Shower. They have both been waiting patiently I think…..lol….Connie called me a week ago and thought they were going in but…..NOPE…..Doesn’t happen that way. Ashley and Mat went in during the nite. Connie arrived around 3. Turned out little Vivian was breach and so they decided to do a C-Section. Several hours later little Vivian was born. Mat was blown away and so emotional with his new daughter. I can only imagine Connie. She is on Cloud Nine. This is the first grandchild for Connie and Brian, as well as Mats parents. We had a 9 way conversation on the cell this morning. I heard it pop….pop…pop…and wondered what was going on. I got up and found out that Ashley had just went in for her C-Section. So Congratulations to All. I’m sure their is such excitement going on at home right now. Their lives have all been changed for ever, now theirs a little baby in their lives. Little Vivian is now ready to be spoiled by all Grandmas and Grandpas…..lol…

This week Rich has been operating the Lady Luck.

Every week they are assigned a job for all week. This ride does not require an assistant. He also has a chair to sit on in the shade.

Last week he operated the Tilt A Whirl which also didn’t require an assistant. The week before he was an assistant on The Dragon. It is one of the big roller coasters in the park.

Before that he was the Chuck Wagon operator. It is a ride more for kids, but many adults rode it too.

He said some even almost to big to fit it….lol…In games, we have 3 areas that we work. Alpine, which is more Arcade games, County Fair, which is your old time fair or carnival games, and The Dragon. That area of course is by the Dragon Rollercoaster. We change games every day. We get a schedule by area for the week, but don’t know what game we get until we get to work. I am starting to have more fun now. My favorite games are games the kids always get PrizeThis of course is the Duck Pond game. Their are 45 ducks. One has a Black dot on the bottom for the big prize, one has a red and one has a blue for the medium. All other 42 has no dot but still win a small prize.

These are the prizes. The medium and small are square plush ducks in yellow, pink and blue. The little kids love them.

One boy came in with only $3 to play one game, and guess what he picked….The black dot duck. We were all just ecstatic…..Another favorite game is Bash a Bully….

You throw 4 leather bean bags at an open mouth and try to knock down 5 teeth.

This game is easy for some and hard for others. Its a cute game.

I worked this game yesterday. It is a game of luck. Throw a whiffle ball and hopes it lands in a colored Goblet. The name of the Game? Goblets of course. 1 ball is $2, 5 balls is $5, and a bucket of 12 balls with a small prize in it already is $10. This is just a few of the games I have worked so far. Each area is run by a manager and assistant managers. I am finding them all to be so nice. They are definitely company orientated also. They go by the rules that are required. So if you don’t tuck in your shirt your told, if you late you might be questioned. If your out of your area your told to get back. But all in all, if you do as the rules require, you will be fine. They are all easy to get along with. They also have kids working that are 14 and 15. Some of them do seem way to immature. Well see how long they last. I’ve heard that many of the kids leave after they have several checks. When your young, a few checks and you think your “Rich”….lol….Oh how I wish……So I think as time goes on we will probably be asked to do more hours. I’ve heard by the end of the season, they lose a lot of workers. But the park closes after the third week in August, during the week. The Iowa State Fair begins and it not far away. After that school begins and were only open weekends till the end of Sept. So actually, we only have a little less than 2 months. Its really not that long.

This is a nice cool area covered with screen. Plenty of benches to sit and rest….

Bridge to Raging River Ride

So an Update on the Accident: …….NOTHING……Nothing has been said or acknowledged. It is as if it never happened. We have heard via the grape vine, that the operator is being blamed. I also believe that the way the paper stated, it is true…..BUT……DID HE HAVE PROPER TRAINING…….I don’t think he should carry the whole blame……..Shouldn’t a switch be implemented for the assist person to push so the operator can then start the ride? I still think they should have held a meeting the next day to reinforce safety. What about the family. Many of the workers here wanted to send cards or condolences. We weren’t given an address or any means to communicate with the family. If I was Steve’s wife, it would have meant so much to me to read and hear from all the fellow workers. They were just here today……gone tomorrow….This was a Very Traumatic event in many peoples lives. The only thing we ever knew was what was printed in the paper………..Will We Ever Know Anymore Details?…..Probably Not…….

All I know is this is NOT the way to handle a situation of this serious nature. At AdvantageLogistics, Sandy would have called a meeting immediately. Their would have been information given as how to help the family. Safety issues would have been discussed. A through investigation would have happened and we would have been advised. Ideas would be discussed as to how to not let this happen again. The family would have been a major concern to her and all of the employees. Fortunately, we never had a serious accident at our plant, but several had happened at plants out of state. That was the reaction that we received from our company…..Complete Openness…..A desire to help…

So glad you are settling in so well. Sounds like things go well if you obey the rules. So many youth today do no know what rules were made for. Keep up the good work. Enjoying my time in Africa. Will write a good long article when I get home.

#1 Congratulations to all on the new Precious little Princess! #2 What a beautiful place to be – looks so clean! #3 Safety switch implemented ASAP (I would think). Sad the Company seems so “cold” – maybe that’s advice from an Attorney? No comfort to the family – would make ME feel lives are meaningless….I also wonder if/how the operator (first day on the job, wasn’t it?) feels/felt… I can’t imagine! We miss you both – Kitty too! See you in a few months!

Hi Margaret. Just saw the latest blog. New babies are fun for everyone. Still enjoy your blogs. Are you and Rich getting the same day off yet? We are still softball gaming everyday. Should be slowing down after July 1. Went down to my sisters yesterday and got host as to plant. Got up at 5 this morning and had all 40 planted by 7:30. Heading to indianola for three softball games today. We are flying down to see Emma over the 4th. Will just be gone 4 days. It has been hot. I’m sure today will be a warm one, no shade where we are playing. Catch you later. Keep up the blogs

My son (Jackson) is the one who won the big yellow fish! It was a great ending to our day and family vacation. We spent two amazing days at Adventuralnd enjoying ourselves and our family of four. My husband in an Iowa City firefighter and I work for the Sheriff’s Office, so this was our “Big” vacation summer getaway. Due to his schedule and mine, it unfortunately doesn’t happen near enough. Anyways, I just wanted to say Thank You for making a little boys day a little brighter. Enjoy!!

Thank you so much Jackson. That was a highlight of my day. It has been so nice to see so many polite and we’ll mannered kids. So many kids think these games are rigged, but most of it is just luck. Your an awesome kid and so glad you all had a wonderful family vacation. You have just made my day brighter, and so glad I’m working here at Adventureland. THANK YOU